Nutritional Status of Selected Adolescent Children: III. ASCORBIC ACID NUTRITURE ASSESSED BY SERUM LEVEL AND SUBCLINICAL SYMPTOMS IN RELATION TO DAILY INTAKE

Abstract

The ascorbic acid nutrition of 248 adolescent boys and girls born and reared in two areas of Washington (Snohomish and Yakima Counties) was assessed by five methods—dietary intake including supplementation, serum blood levels, biomicroscopic and kodachrome evaluation of subclinical deficiency manifestations, and physical examination. By the present standards the ascorbic acid food intake of all boys and of the Yakima girls was low. Mean daily intakes were 82 mg for the boys and 69 mg for the girls. Few (14) subjects took vitamin C supplements. The mean serum ascorbic acid values were rated “fair” to “good.” The values for Snohomish boys and girls were 0.64 ± 0.04 and 0.86 ± 0.06 mg per cent, respectively, and for the Yakima boys and girls, 0.70 ± 0.06 and 0.72 ± 0.06 mg per cent, respectively. A significant difference existed between the sexes. The average scores for the biomicroscopic observations of the upper arm and gingival epithelial lesions indicated a “slight” deficiency of ascorbic acid. The evaluation of the kodachrome slides suggested a “fair” status of ascorbic acid nutrition. The physical examination revealed few subclinical manifestations. On the basis of the several criteria used, selected Washington adolescent subjects may be described as being in a fairly good state of ascorbic acid nutrition.